i honestly feel trapped.

[Butterfly]

If your grandparent's love for you is conditional, you don't need friends like that.

I am not sure it is as simple as that with family - i do not have my grand parents anymore, but certainly looked upon them in a much deeper way than friends. How they react to us goes much deeper. Surely you can understand the dilemma for Michael, I can.
I am a lone Christian in a family, even that brought about dilemmas , and I didn't have the pressure of negative reactions to deal when I came to faith at the age of 21. I wasn't endeavouring to leave a cult and stand up to my family, but I was often torn.
It's all good and well giving advice, but quite frankly some of the advice being given to Michael is without any kind of empathy with regards to his age, fears and the reality that even an older adult would find it incredibly difficult leaving the JW's and standing up to family members ingrained in its teaching. Obviously he is presuming that he would be completely rejected, which may well be the worse case scenario - but it is still a possibility ( although I am more hopeful that he would have his dad on his side )
As for the comment that he should talk to his parents and not strangers, he is seeking help from ' Christians ' because of the pull towards Christianity - to me it seems logical to confide and talk it through with those outside of the JW's first.
Rita

 

[Butterfly]

NO TEENAGER WOULD ACTUALLY TALK TO THEIR PARENTS

That made me smile - my four children are all adults now, but as teenagers they went anywhere but me and their dad if they wanted to talk - to be honest it was as if we spoke a different language to them at times
On the upside, they often came to me first when they got a bit older - we talk the same language now !! ( but sadly they are not believers yet X )
Rita

 

[djstav]

It seems you are more concerned with how your faith looks to others than how it looks to God. If you can't love God & your neighbour then it won't matter what group your following, your faith will be useless.

When a Christian approaches me with the Gospel but has no charity then I dismiss their fath as fake. For the scriptures say that if you can not love your brother who you see but say you love God who you do not see, you are a liar.

 

[Dave L]

I am not sure it is as simple as that with family - i do not have my grand parents anymore, but certainly looked upon them in a much deeper way than friends. How they react to us goes much deeper. Surely you can understand the dilemma for Michael, I can.
I am a lone Christian in a family, even that brought about dilemmas , and I didn't have the pressure of negative reactions to deal when I came to faith at the age of 21. I wasn't endeavouring to leave a cult and stand up to my family, but I was often torn.
It's all good and well giving advice, but quite frankly some of the advice being given to Michael is without any kind of empathy with regards to his age, fears and the reality that even an older adult would find it incredibly difficult leaving the JW's and standing up to family members ingrained in its teaching. Obviously he is presuming that he would be completely rejected, which may well be the worse case scenario - but it is still a possibility ( although I am more hopeful that he would have his dad on his side )
As for the comment that he should talk to his parents and not strangers, he is seeking help from ' Christians ' because of the pull towards Christianity - to me it seems logical to confide and talk it through with those outside of the JW's first.
Rita

I'm only thinking how horrible it would be for me needing to become something I'm not before I could experience the love of a close relative.

 

[Dave L]

If my parents knew i was postjng to this forum they'd think i was up to something suspicious. Or would ask me what i was doing on here and i wouldn't come uo with a good enough answer.

You need to include their wisdom in your decisions. If you belong to Christ, nothing will prevent your salvation. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

 

[Dave L]

no

Believe it or not, Parents have a lot more experience to draw from that can keep you from needing to learn the hard way. You need to consider them in your plans.

 

[djstav]

You need to include their wisdom in your decisions. If you belong to Christ, nothing will prevent your salvation. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

If this is true why does Michael need any of you. You Christian's spend so much time trying to convert others, but in the end the only one who can change men's heart's is God.

 

[djstav]

Today I call myself a believer, but to put you to shame.

 

[Dave L]

If this is true why does Michael need any of you. You Christian's spend so much time trying to convert others, but in the end the only one who can change men's heart's is God.

He doesn't. All he needs to do is honor his father and mother so things go well with him. If he's one of Christ's, he will do this and profit from it.

 

[djstav]

He doesn't. All he needs to do is honor his father and mother so things go well with him. If he's one of Christ's, he will do this and profit from it.

I say to honor that which God made parents for & not the parents themselves. For which parent has not sinned against God. For there is no father or mother but God who is father & mother of all.

 

[Dave L]

I say to honor that which God made parents for & not the parents themselves. For which parent has not sinned against God. For there is no father or mother but God who is father & mother of all.

Scripture doesn't support your claim.

 

[Mister Michael]

You need to include their wisdom in your decisions. If you belong to Christ, nothing will prevent your salvation. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

They don't care what i do.

 

[djstav]

Scripture doesn't support your claim.

King James Bible
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

 

[Dave L]

King James Bible
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

How about Dad and Mom?

 

[Mister Michael]

It's not eaay to honor your parents especially when they are radically different from you

 

[Dave L]

They don't care what i do.

Ask their advice on matters. You'll do better with it than without.

 

[djstav]

How about Dad and Mom?

Call them by their name, not by authority.

 

[Mister Michael]

How about Dad and Mom?

why would they care.

 

[Dave L]

It's not eaay to honor your parents especially when they are radically different from you

I used to think the same. But I was wrong in most cases.

 

[Mister Michael]

Ask their advice on matters. You'll do better with it than without.

they rarely give me advice all they do is five me orders